Service Information
Harold A. Kiecker, age 77, of East Lake Lillian Township, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Graveside Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 7, 2020, at 2:00 P.M. at Peace Lutheran Cemetery in Cosmos, Minnesota.
Visitation will be held on Monday, December 7, 2020, from 12:00-2:00 P.M. as walk-up style through the glass of the west foyer at Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos.
Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
Memorials preferred.
Obituary
Harold Albert Kiecker was born on December 24, 1942, in Litchfield, Minnesota. He was the son of Erich and Alice (Black) Kiecker. Harold was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth both at Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos, Minnesota. He received his education at the Cosmos High School.
On March 23, 1963, Harold was united in marriage to Nancy Bartz at Peace Lutheran Church in Winthrop, Minnesota. This marriage was blessed with three daughters, Denise, Dawn, and Dorie. Harold and Nancy resided in East Lake Lillian Township. They shared 57 years of marriage.
Harold was a longtime farmer in East Lake Lillian Township and drove his own truck for Green Giant and hauled beets for area farmers. He retired in 2007. Harold was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Cosmos and served on the Sunday School Board. He was also very active in the Antique Tractor Club.
In his youth, Harold enjoyed snowmobile racing including the Mille Lacs 500, watching stock car racing, and playing cards with many family and friends. Harold founded the House of Co-op Antique Tractors and Lesser Unknown museum at his home in the fall of 2007. In his spare time, he enjoyed camping with his family and friends, restoring old tractors, and rare Co-op Tractors. Harold also enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, and antique tractor pulling. You could find him spending many days enjoying coffee shop socializing with ‘the guys’.
Harold was admitted to Hutchinson Health on November 14, 2020, and later transferred to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. He passed away there on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at the age of 77 years.
Blessed be his memory.
Harold is survived by his:
Wife, Nancy Kiecker of Lake Lillian, MN;
Daughters, Denise Johnson and her husband, Jodi, of Lake Lillian, MN,
Dawn Kiecker of Glencoe, MN,
Dorie Larsen and her husband, Dale, of Willmar, MN;
Grandchildren, Jacinda Johnson, Samantha Rogney and her significant, Tony Lowden, Cole Danielson, and Alex Larsen;
Great Grandson, Kaiden Robideaux-Johnson;
Sisters, Gladys Macik and her husband, Leo, of Cosmos, MN,
Ordell Stewart and her husband, Frank, of Stillwater, MN,
In-Laws, Rose Kiecker of Cosmos, MN,
Audrey Bartz of Eden Prairie, MN,
Linda Maidl and her husband, Bob, of Eagle River, AK;
Many other relatives and friends.
Harold is preceded in death by his Parents, Erich and Alice Kiecker; Grandson, Dustin Johnson; Sisters, Leona Johnson and Erdine Kiecker (in infancy), Sylvia Wendt; Brothers, Maynard Kiecker and Marvin Kiecker; Mother and Father-in-law, Oscar and Ethel Bartz; Brothers-In-Law, Arthur Lysne, Howard Wendt, and Larry Bartz.
Memorials preferred to Cosmos Peace Lutheran Church Chime Fund.
Jean and Dean Campbell says
Our sympathy to you Nancy and your family. May God wrap his arms around you for peace and comfort in the days and weeks to come. God bless his memory.
Donna hinnenkamp says
Harold and my dad were buddies and were in many tractor pulls together. Harold was a wonderful man and he has a special place in my heart.
Steve Hensley says
Just heart broken over Harold’s passing. This is the post I made on Facebook today after I heard the sad news –
Over the years I have known quite a few people who have died. The passing of Harold Kiecker is not only one that is completely shocking but one that also hurts. When I was a kid, I’d go to tractor pulls with my Grandpa and Grandma all over central Minnesota. While 99% of the participants would show up with one tractor, Harold would show up with three, four, maybe even five in tow. And when Harold was competing in your weight class, you could almost always put his name down in the winners box even before the pull started. He was a winner but he was never rude or unkind about it. He was about as nice of a man as you could get. In the eyes of a kid he seemed larger than life but in reality he was completely down to earth.
Almost 2 years to the day, my Grandpa died. Harold honored my family by driving Grandpa’s beloved John Deere ahead of the hearse. And then the following summer Harold came to the last tractor pull in Stewart, which my family had helped pay for, held in my Grandpa’s memory. There was a bigger, more popular pull in another town that day but once again Harold honored my Grandpa – his friend – by coming to ours.
Harold is a man I’ll never forget. Corona took a kind man who was so full of laugher and kindness. Rest in peace Harold.
Bruce Lamecker says
Sorry for the passing of our friend, we have lots of good memories of Harold with my dad Otto, his always laughing and smiling will be with us forever, may Harold and Otto reunite in heaven with there laughs and smiles.
Crystal Larson says
Very sorry for your loss, praying for you guys during this difficult time.
Alan R. Koenig says
Very sorry to hear of Harold’s passing. He was a family friend (thru Green Giant; my dad Bob was his field man)
and he’ll be sorely missed.
Al Koenig
Lisa Meyer says
Thoughts and prayers to the family. We had just seen Harold and Nancy at McMillans before the closure. He always had a smile on his face and such a kind man. Rest in peace.
Monica Hoeppner says
Sending our sympathy to Nancy and the entire family. Last time I saw Harold, Nancy and Dawn was at the Bartz family reunion in Gaylord in August 2019. May your memories help to comfort you in the days/years ahead.
Monica (Bernadine Miller’s daughter)
Nancy Johnson says
Heaven just got a little Brighter with Uncle Harold meeting up with the rest of the family. I’m sure Uncle Harold, Uncle Maynard, Uncle Marvin, Mom (Leona), and Aunt Sylvia are having a blast right now.
I have such fond memories of Uncle Harold. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and laughed all the time. He was so proud of his tractors and his museum.
One trip up to Minnesota after we left Sturges sticks in my mind when we had a skinned skunk in the back of the car. We pulled a string to raise the skunk tail and Uncle Harold just about knocked everyone down trying to get out of the way and not get sprayed. He eventually returned back to the car with much hesitation laughing all the way.
During another trip we passed each other at the old home place so we turned around and chased Uncle Harold blowing our horn and flashing our lights. He kept speeding up trying to get away but eventually stopped. I think he thought we were going to rob him. Dave walked up to the truck and said “Hey we are lost”, Uncle Harold started laughing up a storm saying “What the HECK.”
My heart is heavy. I love you sweet Uncle Harold you may be gone but will never be forgotten. Rest High On That Mountain!
Wanda Siewert says
Nancy and girls your are in my thoughts prayers and giving you all hugs at this time. Sorry for your loss.
Laurie Fitzloff says
Although I didn’t have the honor to know Harold well I truly enjoyed the time I did get to spend with him. Very loving, thoughtful, fun,and kind hearted person who loved his family. RIP Harold, you left your family on earth to be with your family in heaven. You will be forever missed ?
Karen Hoffmann says
Nancy, Denise & Jodi, Dawn, Dorie & Dale and entire family,
Sending our sympathy & keeping all of you in our thoughts & prayers. Cherish all the wonderful memories & hold them close to your hearts. May God Bless all of you and his memory! Love, hugs & prayers.
Karen & Larry Hoffmann (Karen Gilberts)
Tom Gustafson says
Enjoyed knowing Harold thru out the years he pulled at the Kandiyohi County Fair. He stop and visit at our farm and visit with my Dad (Neil) and myself. RIP Harold. Thanks for the memories!
Rob Hermanson says
Our sympathy to you Nancy and your family. Harold was a friend of my dad, Hjalmer Hermanson and shared the same interest in Co-op tractors. May his memories bring you comfort at this sad time.
Kelli Dallmann (Hennessey) says
Nancy, I’m truly sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathy to you and your family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
JASON SCHULTE says
Sorry to here about Harold mister tractor man I called him Jason schulte
Karen (Markgraf) Swenson says
Dear Nancy and family, I am very sorry about Harold. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I worked with Nancy at HTI. My dad Carl Markgraf and my brother Bob Markgraf were friends of Harold, they really got along very well and thought Harold was a good man!
Bill and Char Lidberg says
Dawn so sorry to hear about your dad. Our prayers are with you all. Bill and Char Lidberg
Charlene Lidberg says
Dawn so very sorry to hear adout your dad. Our prayers are with you all. Bill and Char Libderg
Caleb says
Please accept our deepest condolences from the McCulloch family in Canada.
https://youtu.be/mCrokgwsIkY
Deb says
My Thoughts and Prayers for the Kieker Family.,.